In 2003, 'The Matrix Reloaded' shattered the record for the biggest opening weekend for an R-rated film ($91 million). This was a major milestone because R-rated films have a smaller potential audience since they exclude younger children. The film’s success was driven by the massive cult following of the original 1999 film and a marketing campaign that focused on the high-tech action and philosophical mystery. It proved that a 'hard' blockbuster aimed specifically at adults could generate massive, mainstream opening numbers, leading to a shift in how studios viewed mature content in tentpole movies.